held up in rear, headway 4 out, left 2nd next, ridden to challenge between last two, one pace flat
in touch, headway 4 out, left 3rd next, outpaced from next
close up, ridden 4 out, weakening when jumped right next
tracked leader until hit 4 out, lost place next
in touch, ridden and lost place 4 out
held up in rear, ridden and outpaced 4 out, rallied flat, never a factor
tracked leaders, slow 1st and 5th, went 2nd 4 out, pressing leader next when left in lead, ridden clear flat
led, pressed when hit 3 out and fell
This is anybody's race and only a token vote goes to BARATINUER. A dual bumper winner in France, Dan Skelton's charge should have come on for last month's hurdling debut at Huntingdon. Vintage Clouds has a shout on his recent second at Carlisle, though stablemate I Just Know also ran well on his hurdling bow at Wetherby. Wade Harper is not out of this on the back of a couple of placed efforts while Freddies Portrait found only one too good at Carlisle earlier this month. Bumper winner Celldomfed and point to point winner Moorstown are both related to winning hurdlers and could go well.
Baratineur (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 5th, not fluent 3 out, went 4th flat, stayed on same pace, unable to challenge, 4th of 13, 9l behind Great Hall (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Celldomfed (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Held up behind leaders and took keen hold, racing keenly when checked briefly on inner halfway, headway into 3rd 2f out, ridden in 2nd 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, all out, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f Yielding in Mar beating Lip Service (12-0) by hd, 8 ran.
Freddies Portrait (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance from 2 out, under pressure approaching last, kept on closing stages, not pace of winner, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Virnon (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) hvy in Nov.
I Just Know (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, challenged 7th, 2nd approaching 4 out until pushed along approaching 3 out where left 2nd, ridden and lost 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 20 3/4l behind Royal Vacation (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
Moorstown (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Tr ldr in 2nd, improved to ld 3out, strongly pressed last, all out run-in, won at Lemonfield 3m mdn sft in Mar beating Minella Daddy (12-2) by nk, 6 ran.
Tanarpino 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, 6th of 14, 26l behind Criq Rock (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f (6) gd in Oct.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along before 3 out, headway to chase winner before last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind At The Doubble (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Wade Harper (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Chased winner throughout, held from 3 out, went left last, kept on for 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Marracudja (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Oct.
